Freedom smashes Golden Lions, 48-16

Friday

The visiting Freedom Patriots stamped themselves as a definite playoff-caliber squad with a 48-16 thrashing of the Shelby Golden Lions Friday night at Pearley Allen Field.

The Golden Lions simply didn't have an answer for Freedom's pair of 5-8 lighting bolts -- David Burgess and Khris Gardin in the opening South Mountain Athletic Conference engagement for both squads.

Burgess ran for 308 yards and four touchdowns -- three of those 74 yards or longer -- while Gardin returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score and had a 37-yard pass reception for another touchdown. Each time it seemed Shelby had started to shift the momentum its way, one of the two turned in a big play.

"They both did a great job and we're just happy we've got them in the program," Freedom coach Mike Helms said of the duo.

Even though Shelby (1-4) managed to move up and down the field for 17 first downs and 350-plus yards of total offense in the contest, it wasn't enough to derail the 4-1 Patriots.

Golden Lions coach Lance Ware said it was the inability to finish plays that was his club's downfall, referring to drives that didn't result in points and the inability to tackle well. He said Burgess' spinning, keep-on-going style of running that gave Shelby so much difficulty reminded him of former Lions' standout Bryan Moss.

Things got troublesome quickly for Shelby. A fumble after a pass reception on the Lions' first series led to Gardin's touchdown catch to make it 7-0. Then after the Lions' threw an interception, Burgess completed a short drive with a two-yard effort to make it 14-0.

Perhaps the biggest setback for the host Lions came on their next possession. Shelby put togther a 14-play drive that saw Raekwon Washington go seven yards off the right side for an apparent score. However, a holding call wiped it out and the Lions wound up missing a field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

Burgess though broke it open with an 75-yard scoring run three plays after the kickoff, then again on an 74-yard touchdown dash with 57 seconds left in the half for a 27-0 edge.

Shelby quarterback Spencer Clark threw for the bulk of his 195 yards on the night in the second half, running and passing for a touchdown, but 34-16 was the closest the Lions got as a kickoff return and an interception return pushed the final margin to 48-16.

The Lions will now try to bounce back next Friday on the road against Cleveland County rival Kings Mountain. Freedom travels to Burns in what shapes as a potential title showdown in the SMAC.

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